Racecourse Media Group CEO steps down after 12 years

Racecourse Media Group chief executive Richard FitzGerald has stepped down after nearly 12 years in the role. During his time at the group, the former Aston Vila CEO oversaw several key milestones, including securing the free-to-air ITV broadcasting deal until 2023 and developing a new Watch & Bet service. FitzGerald is set to gradually step down from his role over the next six weeks before being replaced by finance director Martin Stevenson as acting CEO. Racecourse Media Group chair Roger Lewis heaped praise on FitzGerald’s “outstanding performance” during his time with the company. Lewis said: “On behalf of the board of RMG, I thank Richard for his exceptional leadership of the RMG team for almost 12 years. “The recent renewal of the RMG contract with ITV until 2023, the successful launch of our new Watch & Bet service in June, and ensuring RMG is fully operational following the Covid-19 outbreak and so generating significant revenues for our racecourses, has created the right moment for Richard to announce his decision to step down. “Richard leaves RMG with our sincerest thanks and best wishes for having delivered an outstanding performance over a considerable period of time,” he concluded. Speaking on his decision to leave RMG, FitzGerald said it had been a “great journey”. FitzGerald said: “It has been a fabulous and rewarding 12 years working for RMG. The business has flourished and delivered on the vision of the founding shareholders around a collective approach to commercialising their media and data rights. “There is never a good time to step down but with resumption of racing, the new Watch & Bet deals, the terrestrial TV renewal and launch in Italy of fixed odds, and a new cycle of renewals starting shortly, it seems the right time to step down,” he added.